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The Pac-12 only got three teams in the NCAA's and by the end of Thursday, all three were eliminated. But I still think the conference got screwed, and I also think the SEC was way overrated. This is a play here taking advantage of one teams strength against the others weakness. LSU has gone 0-6-2 in their last eight road games while Utah has gone 10-4-3 ATS in their last 17 home games. I'm on Utah.

The Utes' rotation is full of seniors, they're a rock-solid 13-3 at home and have covered in nine of 12 as a home favorite. Compare that to LSU, which has failed to cover in nine of 12 as a road underdog, has four road wins all season and is led in scoring by a 5-11 freshman. Utah nearly had its season capsized before ralling against UC-Davis in the NIT's opening round. Look for the experienced Utes unit -- the top four scorers include three seniors and a junior -- to come motivated right off the tip and take care of business at home.

For East Coasters, it?s midnight madness ? and the madness at USC continues unsurprisingly with a healthy Chimezie Metu, the Trojans? main man, sitting out again to avoid injury before the NBA draft. With No. 2 scorer Bennie Boatwright previously scratched for a more legitimate reason (injury), USC seemed lifeless for most of its double-overtime escape over UNC-Asheville. Western Kentucky represents an upgrade in opponents and, having blasted Boston College last week, is taking the NIT seriously ? certainly more than the Trojans are.

A mystifyingly low spread of 3.5 has moved up a point and still has room to grow, LSU has lost eight straight outright on the road, with no covers and two pushes. Utah, conversely, is 9-4-2 ATS at home this season. Three Tigers are dealing with injuries, including PG Tremont Waters, their primary scorer. All are expected to play but some could be limited. The Utes overcame a languid NIT start against UC-Davis to win. With a mature lineup of four seniors and one junior, they should be more focused here.

West Virginia walked an obstacle-free path to the Sweet 16, notching a pair of ho-hum wins over Murray State and Marshall. But the Mountaineers are likely to meet their match in the Sweet 16 against top-seeded Villanova. Not only the Wildcats the more talented club, they have picked apart opponents who use full-court pressure. For example, they have a pair of wins over Xavier by 50 combined points. Jalen Brunson and friends will pay off the press-breaker with transition buckets, and the Wildcats will move to the Elite Eight with a comfortable win.